UserDeck – Turnkey Knowledgebases for Websites

UserDeck is a web-based application that people can use to embed inline knowledgebases onto their websites. These knowledgebases can serve as a way for companies to provide self-service solutions, documentation, and FAQs to their online customers.

Grab UserDeck’s installable widget, and embed it onto your website. UserDeck “inherits” your website’s layout and styling. You also have the option to override UserDeck’s default widget styling by using the provided tools for editing content, layout, and design. Visit the UserDeck dashboard to edit the content in your knowledgebase. UserDeck has a WYSIWYG editor that includes HTML and markdown support, along with drag-and-drop article organization and layout tools. In addition to the written content and documentation in your self-serve knowledgebase, you can also upload images and attach files. UserDeck also provides visibility control, which means that you can limit the access that outsiders have to specific collections, categories, or articles without making your entire knowledgebase private.

UserDeck’s analytics tools provide publishers with an easy way to see which knowledgebase articles are drawing the most interest from visitors, and which specific keyword searches are bringing people to their sites. UserDeck also includes an article ratings feature, which readers can use to tell businesses which articles in their knowledgebases are the most and least helpful.

Practical Uses:

• Create a knowledgebase for your business website
• Provide customers with a way to find answers to common questions
• Post relevant documentation for your online visitors to download
• Set up step-by-step instructions for creating an account on your website

Insider Tips:

• Allow visitors to rate the articles you’ve posted
• See which keywords are bringing customers to your site
• Organize content by collection, category, or articles
• Change the visibility of specific collections for internal use

What we liked:

• Inline editing lets users make changes to content live on their sites
• Files can be attached to any knowledgebase article
• UserDeck offers full tracking support with Google Analytics
• Users can work on new articles in draft mode

What we didn’t like:

• UserDeck doesn’t offer revision history, although that feature is coming soon

Alternatives:

• Freshdesk – http://freshdesk.com
• Robin – http://robinhq.com
• Zendesk – http://www.zendesk.com

Company Info:

• Privately Held
• Headquarters: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Founded by: Derek Myers and Mark Manos
• Web site: http://userdeck.com

Costs:

• Basic plan is free
• Pro plan is $25 per month, per guide